The Long Way
Ferry County
An exterior view of a rustic wooden building with a distinctive tall roof tower.
Plate I. Interpretive Center, Stonerose Interpretive Center. From stonerosefossil.org
A close-up photograph of a fossilized leaf embedded in rock.
Plate II. Ginkgo biloba fossil, Stonerose Interpretive Center. From stonerosefossil.org
A fossilized leaf preserved in stone with a ruler for scale.
Plate III. Elm leaf fossil, Stonerose Interpretive Center. From stonerosefossil.org
A fossil insect embedded in a rock surface.
Plate IV. Fossilized March fly, Stonerose Fossil Site. From stonerosefossil.org
A fossilized flower embedded in stone.
Plate V. Florissantia Quilchenensis fossil, Stonerose Fossil Site. From stonerosefossil.org
A close-up photograph of an insect fossil embedded in rock.
Plate VI. Fossil specimen, Stonerose Interpretive Center. From stonerosefossil.org

Stonerose Interpretive Center & Fossil Site

Republic, Ferry County, Washington. Fossil site.

Details

Map. Republic, Ferry County, Washington. Larger map
Where
15 N Clark Ave, Republic, WA 99166. Directions
When
Interpretive Center & Gift Store open Tuesday - Sunday 8am - 5pm; closed Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Season
Closed every Monday of the year; Boot Hill Fossil Site April 22 - May 24, Wednesday - Sunday 8am - 4pm; May 26 - September 6 2026, Tuesday - Sunday 8am - 4pm; September 9 - October 31 2026, Wednesday - Sunday 8am-4pm.
Getting there
From Omak, Hwy 97 north to Tonasket, then Hwy 20 east to Republic; turn left onto N. Clark Ave; Stonerose is on the SW corner of Hwy 20 & Clark Ave.
Fees
Fossil site admission: members free, adult (18-61) $18.00, senior (62+) $12.00, youth (5-17) $7.00, youngsters (0-4) free, college student with valid ID $12.00, family (2 adults/2 youth) $43.00.
Access
The fossil site is within walking distance of the Center. There is handicapped parking at the fossil site only. No motor homes, campers or cars with trailers are allowed.
Walk-in or reserve
Groups should plan on contacting Stonerose staff 10 days in advance.
Phone
509-775-2295
Managed by
Friends of Stonerose Fossils.

Impressions of plants, insects, and fish from the Eocene Epoch, nearly 50 million years ago, split from layers of fine-grained shale.

Notable Events

  1. 1896Collecting began at Republic's fossil beds. dnr.wa.gov
  2. 1900sMiners searching for gold and other minerals first found fossil fish and leaves in shale in and around Republic. stonerosefossil.org
  3. 1910Washington State Geologist Umpleby noted plant and fish fossils in tuffs associated with area gold mines. stonerosefossil.org
  4. 1977Wes Wehr began work at Republic's fossil beds. dnr.wa.gov
  5. 1980sThe most productive outcrop, the Boot Hill fossil bed, was discovered. stonerosefossil.org
  6. 1984Wes Wehr and Republic city councilman Bert Chadwick developed the idea of Stonerose Interpretive Center to manage fossil collecting at the site. stonerosefossil.org
  7. 1987Physical work began in spring 1987 by repairing a rundown turn-of-the-century house and donated display cases and organizing the city's fossil collection. dnr.wa.gov
  8. 1987Wolfe and Wehr published a USGS monograph on Republic, accompanied by detailed taxonomic studies. stonerosefossil.org
  9. 1988A Washington State Department of Community Development grant enabled Stonerose to form its nonprofit support group, Friends of Stonerose Fossils. dnr.wa.gov
  10. 1989Stonerose Interpretive Center was established, allowing monitored fossil collecting by the public. stonerosefossil.org
  11. 1991A second state grant funded a university-accredited workshop for teachers on educational uses of fossils. dnr.wa.gov
  12. 1996Washington Geology dedicated its Republic Centennial Issue to regional geology, mining history, paleoecology, and fossil diversity. stonerosefossil.org
  13. 1997A group of paleontologists spent five days systematically working through Eocene lake sediments and sandstone beds, discovering and cataloging fossils. stonerosefossil.org
  14. 2005The Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences published a special issue containing articles on the regional geology and paleontology of the fossil beds. stonerosefossil.org

People

  • Burt Chadick, Former Republic mayor who was instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose.
  • Gary Anderson, One of the first three directors, instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose.
  • Klifton Frazier, One of the first three directors, instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose.
  • Madeline Perry, Former curator who was instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose.
  • Richard Slagle, One of the first three directors, instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose.
  • Wes Wehr, Affiliate paleobotanist from the Burke Museum of Natural History who was instrumental in developing Friends of Stonerose (1929-2004).
  • Catherine Brown, Director of Stonerose (2004-2013).
  • Katherine Meade, Director of Stonerose (until the end of 2020).
  • Lisa Barksdale, Director of Stonerose (1990-2003).
  • Madiline Perry, First director of Stonerose (1987).
  • Solea Kabakov, Worked under Lisa Barksdale and later led Stonerose (1990s; 2021-late 2022).
  • Travis Wellman, AmeriCorps placement and later director (2008; director from the start of 2023).

Sources

  1. stonerosefossil.org
  2. stonerosefossil.org/fossilhunting/visitors-information
  3. stonerosefossil.org/fossilhunting/admission-fees
  4. stonerosefossil.org/about/what-is-stonerose
  5. stonerosefossil.org/visitor-info/location-and-hours
  6. facebook.com/SRFOSSILS
  7. stonerosefossil.org/uncategorized/history
  8. stonerosefossil.org/friends-of-stonerose
  9. wa100.dnr.wa.gov/okanogan/republic
  10. dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_washington_geology_1996_v24_no2.pdf